Royal Jelly Research
37 peer-reviewed studies · Evidence score: 7.5/10
Dosage exploration of the effects of honey and its derivatives on cardiometabolic outcomes: an overview of systematic reviews and GRADE-assessed updated meta-analysis
Norouzzadeh M et al. • Nutrition & diabetes (2025)
This meta-analysis examined the effects of Propolis.
- Propolis demonstrated reductions in anthropometric measures and improvements in lipid profile, glycemic control, liver enzymes, and inflammation and oxidative stress markers.
- While long-term or high-dose honey consumption in individuals with health concerns warrants caution, RJ and propolis demonstrated dose-dependent benefits for cardiometabolic health with proper certainty.
- Future research should focus on population-specific characteristics and optimized dosages.© 2025.
Royal jelly and its hormonal effects in breast cancer: a literature review
Aavani F et al. • Daru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (2024)
Future clinical studies are essential to confirm the safe dose of royal jelly as an adjuvant therapy in breast cancer.
- Future clinical studies are essential to confirm the safe dose of royal jelly as an adjuvant therapy in breast cancer.
- Published in Daru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (2024)
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
The effect of Royal jelly on liver enzymes and glycemic indices: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials
Bahari H et al. • Complementary therapies in medicine (2023)
RJ does not significantly affect liver function and glycemic profile of adult population.
- Combined estimate of effect sizes for the impact of RJ on neither the plasma liver enzymes nor the glycemic indices were statistically significant.
- RJ does not significantly affect liver function and glycemic profile of adult population.
- In trials with longer intervention and those conducted in non-healthy populations a significant reduction of serum FBG was observed.
Royal jelly does not improve markers of glycemia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials
Mahboobi S et al. • Complementary therapies in medicine (2019)
All rights reserved.
- Funnel plot demonstrated no publication bias.
- In conclusion, RJ supplementation did not beneficially affect markers of glycemia.
- All rights reserved.
Seasonal allergic rhinitis and the role of apitherapy
Münstedt K et al. • Allergologia et immunopathologia (2020)
The large discrepancies and number of different recommendations demonstrate that apitherapy is not a consistent type of medicine.
- Only 38.8% of the apitherapy books mentioned seasonal allergic rhinitis.
- The most reasonable recommendation according to clinical studies on the subject, namely the use of a mix of honey and pollen, was only found once (0.8%).
- The large discrepancies and number of different recommendations demonstrate that apitherapy is not a consistent type of medicine.
Prevention and Treatment of Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy Induced Oral Mucositis
Daugėlaitė G et al. • Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) (2019)
Conclusions: Palifermin, Chlorhexidine, Smecta, Actovegin, Kangfuxin, L. brevis lozenges, Royal jelly, Zync supplement, Benzydamine, cryotherapy, laser therapy and professional oral hygiene may be used in oral mucositis treatment and prevention.
- It occurs in almost all patients, who receive radiation therapy of the head and neck area and from 20% to 80% of patients who receive chemotherapy.
- Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) protocol was followed while planning, providing objectives, selecting studies and analyzing data for this systematic review. "MEDLINE" and "PubMed Central" databases were used to search eligible clinical trials.
- Clinical trials researching medication, oral hygiene, cryotherapy or laser therapy efficiency in treatment or/and prevention of oral mucositis were included in this systematic review.
Effects of Royal jelly on metabolic variables in diabetes mellitus: A systematic review
Maleki V et al. • Complementary therapies in medicine (2019)
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- Seven studies showed a significant reduction in FBS, and one reported HbA1c decrease following royal jelly supplementation.
- Although royal jelly supplementation resulted in significant reductions in HOM A-I R in three studies, the findings on insulin levels were controversial.
- In addition, royal jelly resulted in a decrease oxidative stress indicators and increase antioxidant enzymes levels.
Impact of royal jelly consumption on oxidative stress, anti-oxidant markers and physical activities of patients with multiple sclerosis: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study
Eslamifar Z et al. • Irish journal of medical science (2025)
The findings suggest that RJ may help decrease oxidative stress and improve motor function and anti-oxidant capacity in MS patients, potentially slowing disease progression.
- Results indicated that the RJ group experienced a significant reduction in EDSS scores (P < 0.001) and MDA levels (P < 0.0001).
- The findings suggest that RJ may help decrease oxidative stress and improve motor function and anti-oxidant capacity in MS patients, potentially slowing disease progression.
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
A Randomized, Double-Blind Comparison Study of Royal Jelly to Augment Vascular Endothelial Function in Healthy Volunteers
Fujisue K et al. • Journal of atherosclerosis and thrombosis (2022)
Royal jelly might have antiatherogenic property by improving vascular endothelial function.
- The mean age of the participants was 35.0±9.3 years in the placebo group and 36.1±9.1 years in the royal jelly groups; 45% and 50% of the placebo and the royal jelly groups, respectively, were male.
- The percentage relative change in the RH-PAT index was significantly higher in the royal jelly group than in the placebo group (21.4%±53.1% vs. 0.05%±40.9%, P=0.037).
- Royal jelly might have antiatherogenic property by improving vascular endothelial function.
Effects of protease-treated royal jelly on muscle strength in elderly nursing home residents: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-response study
Meng G et al. • Scientific reports (2017)
In addition, we have not found that pRJ intervention can achieve improvement or attenuating the decrease in physical performance.
- The dropout rate was 16.0%.
- The means (95% confidence interval) of change in handgrip strength for placebo, low-dose, and high-dose groups are -0.98(-2.04,0.08), 0.50(-0.65,1.65) and 1.03(-0.37,2.44) kg (P = 0.06, P for trend = 0.02), respectively.
- No significant effects of the interventions were observed for physical performances.
Effect of Protease-Treated Royal Jelly Extract on Facial Wrinkles: A Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Parallel-Group Study
Ikegami S et al. • Journal of cosmetic dermatology (2025)
This is the first study to demonstrate the wrinkle-improving effects of pRJ.
- Significant decreases in the relative amount of bacterial microbiome of the cheeks were observed only in the pRJ-containing cream group.
- This is the first study to demonstrate the wrinkle-improving effects of pRJ.
- Our results suggest that pRJ not only controls stratum corneum water content, dermal thickness, and bacterial microbiome, but also affects stem cell competition and mesenchymal stem cell activation. pRJ can reduce or eliminate certain skin concerns of women by improving age-related wrinkles.
Effect of facial application of essence containing royal jelly extract on stratum corneum moisture content: A placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group study
Maeda Y et al. • Journal of cosmetic dermatology (2022)
The application of an essence containing royal jelly extract significantly improved the moisture content of the stratum corneum of the cheeks, confirming the improvement in the moisturizing function of the royal jelly extract.
- The stratum corneum water content significantly increased by the application of essence containing royal jelly extract to the cheeks for 4 weeks compared with placebo.
- Furthermore, no adverse events were observed at the application site during the application period, and the test products and royal jelly extract contained in the test product were considered highly safe.
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
The efficacy of topical royal jelly on healing of diabetic foot ulcers: a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial
Siavash M et al. • International wound journal (2015)
International Wound Journal © 2013 Medicalhelplines.com Inc and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
- Then, all ulcers were randomly selected to receive either 5% sterile topical RJ or placebo on their total surface area.
- This study could not confirm any significant superiority of 5% topical RJ over placebo for the treatment of DFUs.© 2013 The Authors.
- Healing parameters including depth, length and width reduction rate, duration of complete healing and incidence of complete healing did not show any significant difference (P = 0·69, 0·95, 0·7, 0·74 and 0·6, respectively) between groups.
The effect of royal jelly on oral mucositis in patients undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy
Erdem O et al. • Holistic nursing practice (2014)
As a result, the study results demonstrate that royal jelly administrated by a certain procedure improved the signs and symptoms of oral mucositis and markedly shortened its healing time.
- All patients received mouthwash therapy with benzydamine hydrochloride and nystatin rinses.
- In addition, patients in the experimental group received royal jelly.
- The mean resolution time of oral mucositis in the royal jelly group was significantly shorter than that of the control group.
Effectiveness of a herbal formula in women with menopausal syndrome
Yakoot M et al. • Forschende Komplementarmedizin (2006) (2011)
Lady 4 may be beneficial in the treatment of menopausal syndrome and can be used as a safe natural promoter of health and well-being in women during the menopausal transition.
- Lady 4 may be beneficial in the treatment of menopausal syndrome and can be used as a safe natural promoter of health and well-being in women during the menopausal transition.
- Published in Forschende Komplementarmedizin (2006) (2011)
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
The effect of oral royal jelly administration on skin barrier function: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial
Nakashima C et al. • European journal of dermatology : EJD (2018)
This rct examined the effects of Royal Jelly.
- Clinical trial examining Royal Jelly efficacy
- Published in European journal of dermatology : EJD (2018)
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Long-term effects of honey on cardiovascular parameters and anthropometric measurements of postmenopausal women
Ab Wahab SZ et al. • Complementary therapies in medicine (2018)
Subjects who received Honey Cocktail showed remarkable effects on body mass index.
- There was a significant decrease in the diastolic blood pressure from 77.92 mmHg at baseline to 73.45 mmHg at 12 months (F-statistic = 2.55, p-value = 0.047) in the Tualang Honey group compared to Honey Cocktail.
- There was also a significant decrease in the fasting blood sugar from 6.11 mmol/L at baseline to 5.71 mmol/L at 12 months (F-statistic = 4.03, p-value = 0.021) in the Tualang Honey group compared to the Honey Cocktail group.
- Subjects who received Honey Cocktail showed remarkable effects on body mass index.
Effect of Royal Jelly Intake on Serum Glucose, Apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I), Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) and ApoB/ApoA-I Ratios in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized, Double-Blind Clinical Trial Study
Khoshpey B et al. • Canadian journal of diabetes (2016)
These data suggest that RJ intake may have desirable effects on serum glucose, Apo-A-I concentrations and ApoB/ApoA-I ratios in people with type 2 diabetes.
- The mean difference in glucose concentrations decreased in the RJ group (-9.4 mg/dL vs. 4 mg/dL; p=0.011).
- The mean difference in ApoA-I concentrations increased in the RJ group (34.4 mg/dL vs. -1.08 mg/dL; p=0.013).
- There was a significant decrease in mean difference of ApoB/ApoA-I in the RJ group compared with the placebo group (0.008 vs. 0.13; p<0.044), respectively.
Apitherapy with Royal Jelly and Green Propolis EPP-AF(®) Improves Cardiovascular Risk Markers in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis
Kemp JA et al. • Toxins (2025)
Apitherapy with RJ + GP EPP-AF® extract significantly reduced plasma IL-6 and total cholesterol in HD patients.
- After 2 months, the treated group showed a significant reduction in plasma levels of IL-6 (0.78 to 0.63 pg/mL, p = 0.008) and total cholesterol (138.60 to 111.85 mg/dL, p = 0.03), whereas no changes were observed in the placebo group.
- Apitherapy with RJ + GP EPP-AF® extract significantly reduced plasma IL-6 and total cholesterol in HD patients.
- This supplementation shows promise as a non-pharmacological strategy to reduce cardiovascular risk markers in this population.
Aerobic-Resistance Training with Royal Jelly Supplementation Has a Synergistic Effect on Paraoxonase 1 Changes and Liver Function in Women with MASLD
Askari R et al. • Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) (2025)
However, in order to obtain more accurate scientific evidence, it is necessary to investigate more doses and timing of royal jelly in future studies.
- The results show a significant increase in PON1 (p = 0.008) and HDL (p = 0.005) in the exercise + supplement group compared to the exercise + placebo group.
- But significant decreases in oxLDL (p = 0.031), TC (p = 0.045), TG (p = 0.013), LDL (p = 0.027), ALT (p = 0.015) and AST (p = 0.009) were observed in the exercise + supplement group compared to the exercise + placebo group (<0.05).
- The results show a significant increase in PON1 (p = 0.008) and HDL (p = 0.005) in the exercise + supplement group compared to the exercise + placebo group.